Car-coupling



(NoModel.) y

C. CLARKE.

GAR GOUPLING.

n Patented Oct. 23, 1883.

KV; I

UNITED I STATES PATENT OEEICEo CHRISTOPHER CLARKE, OF NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

cAR-'couPLmel SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,999, dated October 23, 1883 Application tiled February 16, 1883. (No model.)

differentheights, in order to adapt it to couple with cars having their coupling-sockets at different heights from the track.

It is a well-known fact that railway-cars are made after a variety of patterns, land that their draw-bars or coupling-sockets are at different heights from thetrack; and in the case of frei ghtcars this difference in construction is a great source of trouble in making up trai nsin which cars from several different roads` are used, as is now a common practice.

Mydnvention consists in a y.draw-bar and coupling-head made in two parts, and adapted to be moved vertically one upon the other, and mechanism for making such adjustment of the coupling-head both from the side and top of the car, which will be best understood by reference to the description of the drawings, and to thc claims to be hereinafter given.

Figure l of the drawings is an end elevation of a box freigh'tfcar having my improvements appliedthereto. Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section on line x :r in Fig. l, drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 4t is a sectionon line y y on Fig. 3, drawn to the same scale 5 and Fig. 5 is a partial end elevation of a platform freightcar with my improvement applied thereto.

A is the carbody of ordinary construction. B is the truck-frame, C the wheels, and D the axle.

E is the draw -bar, the rear portion of which is constructed and applied to tliecar-body in the usual manner; but instead of having the socket to receive the coupling-link formedin its outer end in the usual way, it has formed in 'its outer end avertical T-shaped groove or slot, c, to which is fitted so as to slide vertically therein the coupling-head F, provided with the link-receiving socket b, and the reor threaded hole in the coupling-head F, in p such a manner that by revolving said screw the head F may bel raised or lowered Irelative to the center line of the draw-bar at will. The upper end of the screw G is connected by means of the link H and two universal or gimbal joints, I I, to the lower end of the shaft J,

mounted in bearings e e upon the front end of the car-body, and provided at its upper end with the hand-wheel K, by means of which it may be revolved by the brakeman upon the top of the car to raise or lower the couplinghead F to the desired position to engage with the coupling of another car. The gimbal or universal j onts I I and the link H are necessary upon a box-car, in order to allow for the yielding and expansion ofthe draw-bar spring, and at the same time'have the long shaft J mounted in iixed bearings. In order'that the same adjustment may be made by a brakeman or other person standing upon the ground, I mount a horizontal shaft, L, in bearings f f on the front end of the car-body, and mount upon its outer vend the hand-wheel M, and upon its inner end the bevel-gear wheel N, which e11- gages with the bevel-gearwheel O, fitted to the shaft J, so as to revolve therewith, and mounted by its hub in the bearing e', so that it cannot be moved endwise with the shaft J, which has a slight vertical movement imparted to it as the link H is moved from a perpendicular position to a position at a greater or less angle to a perpendicular by the endwise movements of the draw-bar E. j

In applying my invention to a platform-car,

'as illustrated in Fig. 5, the link H, gimbal` IOO may be moved about avertical axis, and at its other end in the stand or bearing Q, mounted upon and supported bythe screw-shaft G and the draw-bar F, as shown in Fig. 5.

rIhe operation of my invention will be readily understood by a careful examination of the drawings, in connection with the description herein given, without further explanation.

A dovetailed slide may be formed in the front end ofthe draw-bar, instead of the T-shaped groove or slot a, and the rear end of the coupling-head F be made to fit the same without affecting the principles of my invention.4

- IVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a car-coupling, a draw-bar and a coupling -head made separate and connected together by a vertically-sliding couplingjoint, in combination with a screw for raising and lowering said coupling-head and means for operating said screw both from the top and side of the car, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination of the draw-bar E, the draw-head F, connected to said draw-barE by a sliding joint or bearing, a vertical screw arranged to work in said head as a nut, vand arranged to be operated from the top of the car, the bevel-gear Wheels N and O, and the horizontal shaft L, extending to the side of the car, and provided at its outer end with a hand wheel or crank, whereby the draw-head can be adjusted to different heights, either from the top of the car or from the side, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a draw-bar and drawhead, made separate, and connected by asliding joint or bearing, a screw working in said head'as a nut, and adapted to raise or lower said head, and means of operating said s crew from the side of the car, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 13th day of February, A. D. 1883.

CHRISTOPHER CLARKE.

IVitnesses:

E. A. HEMMENWAY, VAL'rER E. LOMBARD. 

